Odds and Ends From Tuesday in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS - Tuesday at baseball's annual Winter Meetings, a blockbuster trade went down, two free agent signings were announced as officially complete and nine managers addressed a media throng. Here are some notes from the day.

• There's a report that the White Sox have joined the Angels in heavy pursuit of Hideki Matsui. Earlier today I warned against reports stating managers are "interested" in Matsui due to the fact that some international media are asking every single manager if they like Matsui and would like to manage him. This report, however, is unconnected and could be legitimate.

I do question what the White Sox would want with Matsui, because Ozzie Guillen specifically said he'd want someone to be able to play the outfield consistently and is really excited about being able to use multiple players in the designated hitter slot. He discussed how having an everyday DH handcuffs him in keeping his bench fresh. Then again, he also stressed Kenny Williams makes all personnel decisions. Stay tuned.

• Though they are letting Bengie Molina walk in free agency, the Giants are still unsure about using big-time prospect Buster Posey behind the plate at the beginning of 2010. Bruce Bochy said it was a distinct possibility that they'll bring in a stopgap-type catcher for this coming season. In that case, Posey would probably begin the season in Triple-A. He got his feet wet with 17 plate appearances in the majors last season, but is still only 22 years-old.

• The Giants are comfortable with a "leadoff platoon" between Eugenio Velez and Andres Torres, with Velez getting the "lion's share" of the time, and will focus on adding a power bat to replace the production they'll lose from Molina in the middle. Bochy conceded Velez's .308 on-base percentage is problematic in this scenario, but believes he will continue to improve as he gains more experience. Bochy said they are working with Velez on discipline and patience, as well.

• According to new Astros skipper Brad Mills, they plan on giving catching prospect Jason Castro "every opportunity" to make the team out of Spring Training, though they do not plan on actively pushing him too quickly. Castro hit .300 with 10 home runs, 73 RBI and an .826 OPS in two different stops last season. He played 63 games in Double-A, so it's possible the 22-year-old will need a bit more seasoning.

• Mills stopped short of completely ruling out a return for Miguel Tejada, but it didn't sound like the team really wanted to attempt to bring him back.

"I think Tommy Manzella is at a point where he has earned a chance to be able to get in there and play," Mills answered, "And I think we need to afford him that opportunity to be able to do that and he'll see what happens from there."

Manzella, 26, hit .289 with a .756 OPS in 133 games in Triple-A last season. He went 1-for-5 in his initial foray in the majors late in the season.

• Jerry Manuel discussed how difficult it has been for the Mets to accurate evaluate their needs this offseason, due to the significant amount of collective games missed due to injury last season.

"We have got to get healthy. We really have to get healthy," he said emphatically. "And our players that get healthy have to play in the form and fashion that we project them to be."

Manuel stated if that happens, the Mets can compete in the NL East with the players they have. Jose Reyes only played 36 games last year. Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Johan Santana, John Maine and Oliver Perez also missed chunks of time.

• Manuel also mentioned that he expects David Wright's power to return. Wright hit just 10 home runs in 2009 after hitting 33 in 2008. Some of this could be attributed to the spacious Citi Field, but Wright's road power disappeared as well (he hit five home runs each at home and on the road).

• Despite what seemed like a disappointing season from highly-touted youngster David Price, manager Joe Maddon said the season went exactly as they had expected. He mentioned that Price was able to be overly reliant on his fastball when he was being used as a reliever in the previous postseason and he needed to work on developing more pitches last season as a starter. Maddon believes Price was still pretty erratic with the command of his electric fastball as a reliever and said he was already concerned about that before 2009 even began. He also stressed that there was never a mental issue with Price.

"It wasn't a confidence issue," he said of his 24-year-old starter. "I thought it was actually a physical, mechanical issue that he had to work through, because David kind of thrives on all that stuff. He likes being the guy. He wants to be there. He likes the moment. He likes the pressure. It wasn't that. I don't believe it was that. I just believe that there was certain things he had to fix, and he fixed them."

Maddon also compared Price's development to that of CC Sabathia early in his career.

• Ken Macha believes a major key for the Brewers will be to get Carlos Gomez to calm down, for lack of a better phrase.

"Well, guys that get to the Big Leagues, they want to show everybody what they can do.

"I was talking to the Minnesota people last night," said Macha. "Sometimes he swings and both feet are off the ground, to try to hit a homer and swing hard. I think it'll be (hitting coach) Dale (Sveum) and myself working with him and explaining to him that's what we want him to do, get him on base, and making contact is going to be the thing to do it.

"Last night I ran into one of the Minnesota people," he went on, "and he said this guy has just got a tremendous amount of energy. You've got to try to get that under control. That'll be our job."

• Macha pointed out that Manny Parra is definitely going to be a part of the Brewers' opening day starting rotation, along with Yovani Gallardo, and that none of the other spots are set. Parra, 27, is coming off an extremely disappointing season. It was his second season in the Brewers' rotation and his ERA jumped nearly two full points. His WHIP was an abysmal 1.83. He even suffered through a demotion to the minors. Still, one cannot ignore his immense talent. Parra put together a 2.45 ERA in his last full minor league season and has big-time strikeout potential.

• Tony La Russa still believes the Cardinals have a chance at retaining Matt Holliday and attributes their chances to having already given him a trial run with the team.

"I think that not only did the trade help us get into October, but I think it helps us in our chance to have him be a part of our club, because he experienced his teammates, Cardinal fan sport, stuff like that," La Russa said.

"I also know that Scott (Boras) is an experienced agent," he continued, "has his reasons for doing what he's doing, and it hasn't gone unnoticed. We rarely get mentioned as one of the teams with a chance to sign him. But we refuse to believe that. I think we've got a legitimate shot."

• La Russa reiterated that Mark McGwire will be the Cardinals' hitting coach this year and that McGwire is very excited to get the chance to return to St. Louis. This was in contradiction to some statements made by former Caridnals manager, and recent Hall of Fame inductee, Whitey Herzog.

• Once again, many managers were asked about instant replay and most seemed to like having it how it is and do not want to expand it.

• Look for the Arizona Diamondbacks to have incredibly improved pitching staff next season. A.J. Hinch stressed on multiple occasions how big a boost a healthy Brandon Webb gives them. Also, they were forced to get several young arms experience in late pressure situations when closer Chad Qualls fell injured, as well. Qualls is back as the closer, but the experience gained only improves guys like Juan Gutierrez, Esmerling Vasquez and Blaine Boyer, Hinch noted. Oh, and that little blockbuster trade: Edwin Jackson will greatly benefit from the move to the National League and gives the 'Backs three All-Star starters atop the rotation. Anything Ian Kennedy gives them for 2010 would be gravy, as the Jackson for Max Scherzer swap was enough of a short-term upgrade.

• Though many believed the acquisition of Jake Fox by the A's was strictly for designated hitter purposes, Oakland manager Bob Geren believes they can use him in the field as well.

"I don't think there's one specific position where he stands out defensively, but he doesn't necessarily have any bad deficiencies anywhere defensively. He's really known for his offense and his versatility."

Fox played first, third, outfield and catcher for the Cubs last season. He hit .259 with a .779 OPS and 11 home runs in 216 at-bats. He was obliterating minor league pitching before getting the call -- hitting .409 with a 1.336 OPS, 17 home runs and 53 RBI in 45 games in Triple-A.

• New Indians manager Manny Acta said the Indians are pursuing a first baseman in the free agent market. He said that if the season started today they'd look at using Matt LaPorta, Jordan Brown and Andy Marte there, but that they are actively looking for an addition there.

• Finally, on a lighter note, Acta was asked about the leaked internet photos of Grady Sizemore in the buff. He replied with his disgust about the situation. But did he see them? "Why would I want to look at that?" he questioned, drawing laughter. "If I wanted to see my players (naked) I'd just go walk into the showers."